Roof drilling and bolting machine and wrench extension therefor



March 5, 1963 3 Filed July 14, 1959 ETAL 3,080,007

J. B. LONG ROOF DRILLING AND BOLTING MACHINE AND WRENCH EXTENSION THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 & INVENTORG JOHN A. l /ve /EFF 6. Cl. HY

ATTORNEY;

March 5, 1963 Filed July 14, 1959 ONG ET AL 3,080,007

B. L ROOF DRILLING AND BOLTING MACHINE AND WRENCH EXTENSION THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 (/DHN LONG L/EFF' 6.61.4)

E WHJ ATTORNEYJ March 5, 1963 J. B. LONG EI'AL 3,080,007

ROOF DRILLING AND BOLTING MACHINE AND WRENCH EXTENSION THEREFOR Filed July 14, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fzyr 6.

INVENTORS JOHN B. lo/vc; JEFF C. CLAY ATTORNEY) March 5, 1963 5, LONG ETAL 3,080,007

ROOF DRILLING AND BOLTING MACHINE AND WRENCH EXTENSION THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 14, 1959 INVENTORS JOHN 5. LONG (/EFF 6. CLAY ATTORNEY;

ilnited etates Patent 3,080,0d? Patented Mar. 5, 1953 Free This invention relates to improvements in roof drilling and bolting machines and wrench extensions therefor.

In mining operations, such as coal mining, it has become a Widely accepted practice to support the roof of a mine shaft by means of roof bolts. Such roof bolts are embedded within the roof of the mine, at intervals, and serve to pin any piece of loose material to solid rock above, reinforce the skin areas of the underground arch, prevent sheer movement of rock strata, and form a solid self-supporting beam of several weak strata. In such roof bolting it is imperative that any equipment for drilling and tightening the roof bolts be exceedingly compact and mobile in order to be capable of working in low seam mines and, inasmuch as proper roof bolting depends upon the proper tensioning of each roof bolt, means must be provided for the application of the proper amount of force in tightening each bolt.

The primary object of our invention is the provision of an improved roof drilling and bolting machine that provides the necessary compactness and mobility for optimum performance in mining operations.

A further object is the provision of an improved drilling and bolting means for use on roof drilling and bolting machines, including an improved cam and linkage system for rectilinear movement of the drilling and bolting head.

A further object is the provision of a wrench extension for mounting on the drilling and bolting head of a roof drilling and bolting machine wherein a measured torque may be applied in wrenching the bolt, which wrench extension avoids any galling between the bolt head and roof plate during tightening of the roof bolt.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a portion of this specification and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of our improved roof drilling and bolting machine.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the roof drilling and bolting machine.

FIGS. 3, 4- and 5 are fragmentary cross sectional views FIG. is a fragmentary sectional view showing a bolt receiving hole drilled in mine strata.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are fragmentary sectional views taken through mine strata and showing various stages of the bolt application thereinto.

'In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, and

i wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may generally designate our improved mobile roof drilling and bolting machine; B drilling and bolting means mounted upon the mobile carrier A; C a power supply system for the tramming of the mobile carrier and operation of the drilling and bolting means; and D our improved wrench extension.

The mobile carrier A preferably includes a pair of side frames 20 and 21 that are interconnected together by means of a rear frame 22. The forward ends of the side frames 20 and 21 are spaced apart to define a slot 24 which receives the drilling and bolting means B. The uppermost portions of these side frames '20 and 21 may be provided with a flanged rim 26 for receiving tools that may be used in the drilling and bolting operation. The rear frame 22 may include a fluid receiving tank 27 for receiving hydraulic fluid, as will be subsequently described.

Mounted upon the mobile carrier A is an electric motor 30 that is suitably interconnected to a starter 31 and an electrical conduit 32 is provided for furnishing power to the starter and motor from an external source. The electric motor 30 has operatively mounted thereon a pump 33 that forms a part of the power supply system C.

Mounted upon the side frames 20 and 21 and extending therebetween are a pair of axles 36 and 37 that support wheels 38 at each end thereof. Each of the wheels is fitted with a hub 38* to receive conventional antifriction bearings (not shown) between hub and shaft. A sprocket 39 is attached to the outer hub end, which sprockets are connected, by means of a drive chain 40, to a driving sprocket 41 that is provided upon the shaft 42 of the gear reducer 43. Each of the gear reducers 43 are preferably interconnected to and driven by hydraulic motors 44 interconnected within the power supply system C, as will be subsequently described. The wheel sets to each side of the mobile carrier are thus independently operated so that the carrier may be easily trammed and turned by cooperative rotation of the wheel sets, at the same speed for straight line tramming, and with one set rotating faster than the other for turning the carrier.

taken substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 1, showing Depending side plates (not shown) may be mounted on the outer sides of each of the side frames in order to protect workers from contact with the wheel driving mechanism.

Mounted upon the forward end of the mobile carrier, adjacent the slotted opening 24, are a pair of hydraulic jacks 47 and 48. One of the jacks is hingedly connected to each side frame 20 and 21 at the uppermost portions thereof by a jack pin 49 and is secured to its respective side frame at the lowermost portion thereof by means of a strap 51. The pistons 54 of the jacks 47 and 48 may be hydraulically lowered into contact with the ground floor so that the forwardly extending portions of the side frames 20 and 21, which portions extend forwardly of the wheels 38, will be maintained in a vertically fixed position during the drilling operation.

The drilling and bolting means B is mounted within the slot 24 and preferably includes a carriage 69 slidably mounted upon the side frames 20 and 21, within the slot 24, a drilling and bolting head 61, guide linkage 62 interconnecting the carriage 60 and the drilling and bolting head 61, ilift linkage 63 interconnecting the drilling and bolting head 61 and the carriage 60, guide means 64 for rectilinearly guiding the drilling and bolting head 61, and lift means 65 interconnected to and supplying lifting power to the left arms 63.

The carriage 60 preferably includes a pair of side plates 67 and 68, one of which is slidably supported upon each of the side frames 20 and 21, within the slot 24. Mounted upon each of the side frames are a pair of spaced apart runner bars or rails 78 and 71 that define a trackway 72. Each of the side plates 67 and 68 are provided with followers or rollers 74 that interfit within the trackway 72 and the side plates are slidably supported upon their respective side frames thereby. The rails 70 and 71 serve as a horizontal cam and the rollers 74 serve as followers, thereby guiding the horizontal sliding movement of the side plates 67 and 68.

Interconnecting the side plates 67 and 68 is a rear brace 77 and an upper brace 7-8 which support lift means 65 between the side plates 67 and 68. The lift means 65 includes a hydraulic cylinder 80 that is pivotally connected to the rear brace 77 by means of a pin 81 and is provided with a sliding piston 82 that extends forwardly toward the drilling and bolting head 61. Suitable hydraulic fluid supply lines are connected to the hydraulic cylinder 80, as will be subsequently described.

The drilling and bolting head 61 preferably includes a gear reducer 85 that is provided with a socket 86 for receiving the drill bit or wrench extension. Operatively connected to and driving the gear reducer 85 is a hydraulic motor 87 which is suitably interconnected within the power supply system C, as will be subsequently described. Mounted upon either end of the gear reducer 85 are mounting plates 88 for attachment thereto of the guide linkage 62 and lift linkage 63.

The guide linkage 62 preferably includes a pair of guide arms 90 and 91, the guide arm 90 being pivotally interconnected at one end thereof to the side plate 67 and pivotally interconnected at the other end thereof to one of the side plates 88 of the drilling and bolting end 61, and the other guide arm 91 being pivotally interconnected at one end thereof to the side plate 68 of the carriage 60 and pivotally interconnected at the other end thereof to the other of the side plates 88. A cross brace 93 may be provided interconnecting the guide arms 9!) and 91 for transverse stability.

The lift linkage 63 preferably includes a shaft 94 that extends between and is mounted upon the flange bearings 95, one of which flange bearings is mounted upon the side plate 67 and the other of which is mounted upon the side plate 68. A sleeve 97 is mounted upon the shaft 94, which sleeve 97 is provided with depending arms 98 that are interconnected to the piston 82 by means of the pin 99. Secured at oneend thereof to the sleeve 97 are a pair of lever arms 100 and 101, a top plate 161 and a bottom plate 101 each of which are secured at the other end thereof to the cross brace 102, forming a box-like support for arms 163 and 104. Lift 103 and 104 are secured to the cross brace 1G2 and upper gusset plates 194 and lower gusset plates 104 are preferably welded to cross brace 102 and lift arms 103 and 164- for transverse and vertical stability. The life arms 103 and 104 are parallel to each other and the outermost end of each is connected to a side plate 88 of the drilling and bolting head 61.

The guide means '64 includes an arcuate cam 105, having a cam slot 106, mounted upon each of the side frames 20 and 21, within the slot 24. Each of the lift arms 103 and 194 is provided with a roller 188 that is slidably re ceived Within the slot 106 and serves as a follower of the earn 105.

In the initial starting of a drilling operation, when an exceptionally long bit may be used, it is preferable to support the bit intermediate its length so that it may be properly guided at the initial portion of the drilling operation. In order to accomplish this end we have provided an extensible boom 131 mounted on the frame 22. The boom 131 is pivotally supported upon the frame 22 by means of a pivot support 132 and is provided with an arm 133 that telescopes within the boom 131, the outermost end of the arm 133 being provided with a bearing mount 134 that receives the bit therethro'u'gh. A handle 135 may be provided for guiding of the boom.

In the power supply system C a conventional valve bank 110 is provided for regulating the fl'ow of hydrau lic fluid. Such power supply system preferably includes the tank 27; a conduit 112 leading from the tank 27 to the pump 33, which pump 33 has a dual pressure outlet, supplying pressure through each of the conduits 113 and 114; the conduit 113 leading to the valve bank for supply of fluid pressure solely to the lift cylinder 89 and the conduit .114 supplying pressure to the valve bank .110 for supplying hydraulic pressure to the remainder of the system. ,In the flow of hydraulic fluid through the conduit 113, the same will enter the valve bank 110 and may be directed into either of the conduits 116 or 117, dependent upon the direction in which it is desired to reciprocate the piston 82 of the cylinder 80. The value bank is, of course, provided with a fluid return conduit 118 for returning the hydraulic fluid to the tank 27 when no move ment of the various elements is desired.

Hydraulic fluid is supplied from the valve bank 110 to the tram motors 44 through the conduits 120, the direction of flow and the speed of flow of the hydraulic fluid through each of the conduits 120 being regulated by the valve bank 110. Each of the tram motors 44 are provided with fluid return conduits 121 leading to the tank 27.

The jacks 47 and 48 are synchronously operated and conduits 125 and 126 are provided leading thereto from the valve bank 110.

The drilling and bolting head hydraulic motor 87 is interconnected to the valve bank 110 by means of the conduit 128 and a conduit 129 is provided for the return of hydraulic fluid from the motor 87 to the tank'27. Interconnected in the conduit 128 is a flow regulator valve 130 for regulating the flow of fluid through the conduit 128, thus permitting regulation of the speed of the drilling motor 87.

The wrench extension D preferably includes a polygonal socket shaft 141} that is designed to fit within the socket 86 of the drilling and bolting head 61. A sleeve 141 is slidably mounted about the shaft 140, and a bolt socket 142 mounted upon the sleeve 141. A pin 143 is mounted upon the shaft 14!} and the sleeve 141 is provided with slotted openings 144 that receive the pin 143. Rectilinear movement of the sleeve 141 with respect to the shaft is thus limited by the length of the slot 144. A bracket 147 is provided upon the shaft 140 and a bracket 148 is mounted upon the sleeve 141, there being provided a spring member 150 mounted between the brackets 147 and 148 and urging these brackets apart. Such spring action will therefore normally socket the pin 143 to one end of the slot 144. r

The operation of the device is as follows:

The mobile carrier A is first trammed into position in a point at the mine shaft wherein roof bolts are to be applied and the jacks 47 and 48 are positioned. A suitable bit 151 is then selected and placed within the socket 86 of the drilling and bolting head 61. The bit guiding boom 131 may then be moved so that the bit is centered within the bearing mount 134, for properly guiding the bit. Such operation usually takes place while the drilling and bolts ing head 61 is in the position as shown in FIG. 3. The drilling and bolting motor 87 is then activated, rotating the bit, and the hydraulic cylinder 84) is activated, to start the drilling operation.

The activation of the hydraulic cylinder 80 moves the drilling and bolting head 61 rectilinearly into the mine roof, the piston 82 of the cylinder 80 moving the depending arms 97 and 98 and rotating the sleeve 95, which in turn lifts the lever arms and 101 and raises lift arms 103 and 1:74. The cam follower 108, interfitting within the slot 166 of the cam 165, will guide the upward motion of the lifting arms so that the drilling and bolting head 61 is moved rectilinearly, and the guide arms 99 and 91 complete the linkage guiding system, these arms serving to guide the horizontal sliding movement of the carriage 60 and to correlate the camming action of the horizontal cam, comprising the rails 70* and 71 and the followers 74, with the arcuate cam, comprising the follower 108 and the cam 105.

After the starter hole 152 has been drilled to the appropriate depth, the drilling and bolting head 61 is lowered, the starting drill removed, and a finishing drill inserted within the socket 86, whereupon the drilling and bolting head 61 is again raised and the finishing hole 153 is drilled. During the course of this drilling operation the drilling and bolting head 61 will move to the various positions shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

After the hole has been drilled an expansible roof bolt wil be inserted thereinto, which expansible roof bolts usually include a bolt 154, an expansion shell 155 and a plug 156. Such bolt is partially threaded into the plug 156, and as the bolt is tightened the plug 156 will be wedged downwardly into the expansion shell 155 causing the sides thereof to move outwardly and to tightly grip the strata surrounding the hole. In the application of the roof bolt to the mine roof, a roof plate 157 will be fitted over the bolt, the expansion sleeve 155 fitted thereover and the plug 156 partially threaded onto the bolt 154. The bolt is then pushed up into the hole, the socket shaft 140 of the wrench extension D interfitted Within the socket 86 of the drilling and bolting head 61, and the drilling and bolting head 61 raised so that the head of the bolt inter-fits within the bolt socket 142 of the wrench extension D. The Wrench extension is then further raised so that the spring member 150 is partially compressed. This partial compression of the spring member is exceedingly important in proper tensioning of the roof bolt. In the usual bolt tightening operation the drilling and bolting head of the standard drilling and bolting machine will be raised up to position where the plate 157 is pressed against the mine roof, however, there is no way at all of judging the amount of pressure that is exerted upon the plate 157 by the drilling head, and there is therefore no way in which the appropriate torque can be applied to the bolt in order to secure proper tensioning. The ditliculty in gauging such torque can be easily realized from the fact that most roof drilling and bolting machines are capable of an upward lifting force of as much as three thousand pounds, and the lift is normally fast in both the up and down motion, and the inching up and down that would be required in order to arrive at a condition of firm seating, but not excessive upward pressure is slow and impractical, and furthermore such inching up wardly and downwardly would allow the wrench to slip off of the bolt head. In our improved wrench extension the spring pressure is approximately one hundred pounds and the drilling and bolting head can be quickly and accurately positioned so that the spring member 150 thereof is only partially compressed, properly seating the bolt head and plate without excessive upward pressure. The torque that is applied by the drilling and bolting head 61 can be accurately gauged and, as none of the torque will be dissipated by excessive pressure between the bolt head and roof plate, it is therefore possible, by use of our improved wrench extension, to accurately and quickly apply the correct tension to each and every bolt. A torque of approximately foot pounds is usually applied to the drilling and bolting head 61 and the bolt is tightened until the drilling and bolting motor stalls. There is therefore proper uniformity of pressure between the bolt head and the plate, as a result of the compressive force of the spring on the bolt head, and the torque that is applied to the bolt head.

After the bolt tightening operation has been completed the drilling and bolting head 61 is lowered, the wrench extension D removed, and the machine is then trammed into position for further drilling and bolting operations.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims. tlot.apoerr We claim:

1. In a roof drilling and bolting machine the combination of a mobile carrier including a pair of side frames and a rear frame, said rear frame interconnecting said side frames at one end thereof and said side frames extending in a spaced relationship therefrom and defining a slot therebetween, said side frames each including cam means, and ground engaging means for supporting said mobile carrier; drilling and bolting means mounted intermediate said side frames for rectilinear movement through said slot, said drilling and bolting means including a carriage mounted upon said side frames within said slot, said carriage being extendant substantially across said slot and terminatin at each side thereof adjacent one of said side frames, slide means attached to each side of said carriage adjacent a side frame, carriage mounting means secured to each of said side frames, said carriage mounting means slidably receiving said slide means and supporting said carriage in a rectilineally slidable relationship with respect to said side frames, a drilling and bolting head, guide linkage interconnecting said carriage and said drilling and bolting head, lift linkage interconnecting said carriage and said drilling and bolting head, cam follower means mounted upon said lift linkage and cooperatively engaging said cam means of said side frames, and a power supply linkage mounted upon said carriage and operatively interconnected to said lift linkage, carriage, guide linkage, lift linkage, cam means and cam follower means for rectilinearly moving said drilling and bolting head; and power supply means for activating said power supply linkage and said drilling and bolting head.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said carriage mounting means comprises a pair of spaced apart rails mounted upon each of said side frames, said rails extending within said slot and defining a pair of trackways, and wherein said slide means comprises roller means attached to each side of said carriage adjacent a side frame, the roller means of one side of said carriage cooperatively engaging one of said trackways and the roller means of the other side of said carriage cooperatively engaging the other of said trackways, said trackways forming a cam and said roller means serving as cam followers with the cooperative engagement between said cam and cam follower rectilineally guiding the sliding movement of said carriage.

3. The combination as specified in claim 2 wherein said cam means provided upon said side frames is of an arcuate configuration extending arcuately vertical of said side frames and said carriage is supported upon said trackways for horizontal sliding movement with respect to said side frames; said guide linkage including a pair of arms one end of each of which is attached to said drilling and bolting head and the other end of each of which is attached to said carriage; said power supply linkage including a shaft mounted upon and extending between the sides of said carriage, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft, depending arms mounted upon said sleeve, and power means operatively interconnected to said depending arms for rotating said sleeve through interconnection with said depending arms; and said lift linkage including a pair of arms one end of each of which 'is attached to said drilling and bolting head an'd t he other end of each of which is attached to said sleeve. v

4. The combination asspecified in claim 3 wherein cross brace means extends across said carriage, said cross brace means'b'eing'dispo'sed to the oppositeend of said carriage from said sleeve, and said power means comprisesa hydrauliccylinder having a movable piston,.said hydraulic Cylinder being ar'cuately movably supported, upon said cr'o'ss brace means and said piston being arcuateiy movably connected to said depending arms so that said hydraulic cy'li-nder may: pivot with respect to said carriage and said piston may pivot 'withrespect to said depending arms 15 2,854,217

and thus provide a lineally moving power supply for rotatably moving said sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 744,912 Gibson Nov. 24, 1903 1,665,173 Misener Apr. 3, 1928' 2,379,137 Feucht June 26, 1945 2,569,069 Motel Sept. 25, 1951 2,606,472 Curtis 'et a1 Aug. 12, 1952' 2,641,291 Yess June 9, 1953 2,652,736 Kiene Sept. 22, 1953 2,771,273 Pond Nov. 20, 1956 2,815,191 Beltz Dec. 3, 1957 B'anjamin Sept. 30, 1958. 

1. IN A ROOF DRILLING AND BOLTING MACHINE THE COMBINATION OF A MOBILE CARRIER INCLUDING A PAIR OF SIDE FRAMES AND A REAR FRAME, SAID REAR FRAME INTERCONNECTING SAID SIDE FRAMES AT ONE END THEREOF AND SAID SIDE FRAMES EXTENDING IN A SPACED RELATIONSHIP THEREFROM AND DEFINING A SLOT THEREBETWEEN, SAID SIDE FRAMES EACH INCLUDING CAM MEANS, AND GROUND ENGAGING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID MOBILE CARRIER; DRILLING AND BOLTING MEANS MOUNTED INTERMEDIATE SAID SIDE FRAMES FOR RECTILINEAR MOVEMENT THROUGH SAID SLOT, SAID DRILLING AND BOLTING MEANS INCLUDING A CARRIAGE MOUNTED UPON SAID SIDE FRAMES WITHIN SAID SLOT, SAID CARRIAGE BEING EXTENDANT SUBSTANTIALLY ACROSS SAID SLOT AND TERMINATING AT EACH SIDE THEREOF ADJACENT ONE OF SAID SIDE FRAMES, SLIDE MEANS ATTACHED TO EACH SIDE OF SAID CARRIAGE ADJACENT A SIDE FRAME, CARRIAGE MOUNTING MEANS SECURED TO EACH OF SAID SIDE FRAMES, SAID CARRIAGE MOUNTING MEANS SLIDABLY RECEIVING SAID SLIDE MEANS AND SUPPORTING SAID CARRIAGE IN A RECTILINEALLY SLIDABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID SIDE FRAMES, A DRILLING AND BOLTING HEAD, GUIDE LINKAGE INTERCONNECTING SAID CARRIAGE AND SAID DRILLING AND BOLTING HEAD, LIFT LINKAGE INTERCONNECTING SAID CARRIAGE AND SAID DRILLING AND BOLTING HEAD, CAM FOLLOWER MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID LIFT LINKAGE AND COOPERATIVELY ENGAGING SAID CAM MEANS OF SAID SIDE FRAMES, AND A POWER SUPPLY LINKAGE MOUNTED UPON SAID CARRIAGE AND OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTED TO SAID LIFT LINKAGE, CARRIAGE, GUIDE LINKAGE, LIFT LINKAGE, CAM MEANS AND CAM FOLLOWER MEANS FOR RECTILINEARLY MOVING SAID DRILLING AND BOLTING HEAD; AND POWER SUPPLY MEANS FOR ACTIVATING SAID POWER SUPPLY LINKAGE AND SAID DRILLING AND BOLTING HEAD. 